Apparatus for



B. THOMAS,

I 3 I l A auoemtoz Brunt! Thomas Patented May 27,1919.

BRUNO THOMAS, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICAIF FIXATION 0F GASES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27, 1919.

Application filed April 18, 1917. Serial No. 162,869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BRUNO THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, andresident of the city of Seattle, county of King, and State ofWashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Electrical Fixation of Gases, of which the following is a.specification.

My invention relates to apparatus employed in the formation of arcs,which arcs are used in the electrical treatment of gases, as for thefixation of atmospheric nitrogen.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved form of electrodefor such use, whereby a more efficient formation of the arc and itsaction upon the gases may be secured.

My invention consists of the novel constructions and combinations whichare herein set forth and which are particularly defined in the claim.

In the. accompanying drawing, I have shown the special form of apparatuswhich I now consider as best adapted to carry out my improvements. Thisshows an arcing or transforming chamber 3 which may be of any suitablematerial and type of construction which is not at variance with thatwhich is herein indicated to be essential.

The air or other gases being acted upon enters this chamber through apipe 30, which is joined to the body of the chamber walls by a conedsection 31. This coned section is desirable to secure the bestrelationship with the special shape of the electrodes used.

My invention has been illustrated as it would be designed for the use ofa multiphase electric current having three phases although it may beused with a current of any other number of phases. Each electrode isconnected with its respective lead of a current supply system. Thenumber of electrodes would be determined largely by the number of phasesof the current supply being used.

The electrodes 12 are horn electrodes, and the arc-forming portions ofthese are in the form of conical helices, as has been clearly shown inthe drawing. The are forms between these; electrodes and is driven bythe incoming current of gas, to their outer or free ends, forming a domeor conical shaped are connecting the ends of the electrodes.

The entering air or gas is thus forced through the body of a conical ordome shaped arc and therefore is brought into intimate contact with theare which contributes to efficient conversion of the gaseous elementsinto the desired products.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In an apparatus for electrical association of gases, a series of hornelectrodes disposed about a common central axis and curved to resembleconical helices having-the base of the cone at their free ends.

ed at Seattle, Washington, this 13th Sign day of April, 1917.

BRUNO THOMAS.

